A watch serves as a timepiece and an accessory, and a high-end one will also serve as an investment. A luxury watch is in a class all by itself, and if you are looking to get a wearable art piece that combines great function and aesthetics, then this is the best choice. A luxury watch will speak for you because it exudes prestige. Swiss watchmakers are the most famous for making some of the best luxury watch brands. Below is a list of the brands that exude class, sophistication, and exquisite workmanship to produce an accessory worth owning and investing in.
20 of the Most Recognizable Luxury Watch Brands
1. Rolex
Rolex is one of the most recognizable best luxury watch brands there is. The brand speaks of luxury and classic, well-made watches with a history of making quality timepieces. The Swiss watchmaker is known for innovations in the industry. It was the first to make self-winding and waterproof watches globally, the Oyster, which remains a firm favorite for many discerning watch buyers. There are many popular Rolex models, and the brand produces some of the best sports watches for men, such as the Submariner collection. Rolex is also one of the most accurate time watches.
See more: rolex.com
2. Blancpain
Blancpain is a watch brand that is known for its exclusivity. Produced by the Swatch Group, these watches are purely mechanical and do not have a single digital component. The materials used to make the watches ensure that the watches are accurate and the workmanship is superior, resulting in a luxury timepiece that is unique and durable. The adornments are luxurious with etchings and small pictures in the enamel, which are top tier. The innovations found in Blancpain are an annual calendar that comes with a GMT reference.
See more: blancpain.com
3. Patek Philippe
Patek Phillipe is a watch manufacturer established in 1839 and remains one of the foremost luxurious watch brands. The uniqueness of Patek Philippe watches is based on the design of the watches, which are highly detailed and covered with a high-quality casing that is polished to near perfection. The mechanical clock of each timepiece is handcrafted, and they are made of high-quality metals such as yellow, white, and rose gold or platinum. Using high-end metals makes Patek Phillipe one of the most expensive watch brands in the world.
See more: patek.com
4. Jaeger-LeCoultre
Among the best luxury watch brands, Jaeger-LeCoultre is known for developing innovations in its watches. The company has more than one thousand different calibers, including the world’s smallest caliber and four hundred patents unique to its brand. The watches have some special features, such as the Reverso collection, which is unisex. The Deep Sea Chronograph is popular for its good investment capabilities with its sharp and clean design, which combines the brand’s easily recognizable vintage design with a modern hint. It is a prestigious brand with very high quality.
See more: jaeger-lecoultre.com
5. Piaget
Piaget is best known for fine-looking watches and is one of the most expensive watch brands that are understated but no less classy. The watches tend to be slim and can serve as an accessory and as a jewelry piece. Piaget is also a jewelry maker who makes their watches aesthetically pleasing and delicate while using the highest quality mechanics, providing a timepiece highly revered as a horological masterpiece. The 140-year-old watch brand produces the Piaget Altiplano Ultimate, and the Piaget Polo S are among the best known of the Piaget watches.
See more: piaget.com
6. Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin is a 265-year-old watchmaker, which makes the brand the oldest in the world. The watches all have a Hallmark of Geneva, the most trusted seal of their watches, guaranteeing the precision, durability, and expert workmanship that has gone into creating the timepieces. The watch brand does not produce many pieces in a year, making the watches rare and exclusive. The Patrimony collection is one of the best-selling watches and contains a simple classic design.
See more: vacheron-constantin.com
7. Bremont
The British company produces high-end watches that are readily identifiable for their aviation influence. Founded in 2002, the young luxury watchmaker is one of the best luxury watch brands. It has some popular watches that include the Supermarine collection, including the Chrono and S302 GMT Diver watches, while the RFU 150 GMT Diver pays homage to the British rugby team. The watches are high-end with defined curves and proportionally balanced faces. They are beautifully crafted, with plenty of attention paid to detail every feature.
See more: bremont.com
8. Baume & Mercier
Baume & Mercier is known for its perfect proportion. Their watches are signified by a Phi on every Baume & Mercier watch dial, the Greek letter that stands for divine proportion and harmony. The watch band sets itself apart by its inventive designs with exquisite detail. The women’s watches are delicate and elegant, with one of the most popular models, the Marquise, being a small and sophisticated watch. The luxury brand also subtly incorporates stones and other luxurious details in the watches, making them have a clean, small but luxurious aesthetic.
See more: baume-et-mercier.com
9. Omega
Omega is one of the most famous brands from the Swatch Group. The 170-year-old brand is well known for its accuracy and durability. Omega watches are also famous for some firsts, for instance, being the first watch to be worn by Astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the moon and many prominent public figures, including presidents and musicians, making it one of the most sought-after luxury timepieces. The watch brand name is from the Omega caliber. It is known for its precision and continues to win first place in watch precision competitions.
See more: omegawatches.com
10. Glashütte Original
Glashütte Original is a German luxury watch brand with complicated mechanics in its watches. It does not mean the timepieces are basic; on the contrary, they are exquisite in design and function. The brand’s collections are known for outstanding artistry, and collections such as Senator watches, The Lady Collection, PanoLunar, PanoGraph, and the PanoMatic are popular for their superior function. The Pano series is known for outstanding innovations such as being mechanical with a countdown function, repetition chime, and automatic winding movement with high-end finishings.
See more: glashuette-original.com
11. Hublot
Despite using materials that would not be considered luxurious, Hublot is one of the best luxury watch brands that is unique for its designs based on the materials used to make the watches. The watchmaker makes Hublot watches from ceramic, metals, rubber straps, leather, and other less-used materials. The special edition watches and limited edition Hublots are best-loved by people who love showy and ostentatious watch pieces. Even with all the glitz, a Hublot watch is well made with superior mechanical engineering to make the precise time-telling pieces.
See more: hublot.com
12. Panerai
Panerai is famous for its classic and traditional designs. The Italian watchmaker has perfected the art of creating luxury sports watches that command presence as they are large and made of expensive metals and high-quality materials. They are easily recognizable for their cushion shape cases. The Radiomir and the Luminor are the most popular, and they have the classic Panerai lug style. The difference between the models is the caliber used. The watch’s popularity has grown with famous action stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, and Sylvester Stallone seem to love it and wear it often.
See more: panerai.com
13. Arnold & Son
Arnold & Son has some of the most innovative timepieces based on the British watchmaker’s ability to develop new inventions. Arnold & Son is one of the most important watchmakers today because many of its innovations are used in watches by other brands. For instance, the watchmaker created the overcoil balance spring and the most minor minute repeater. It is constantly developing new calibers and movements. Arnold & Son watches are unique in their design with high-quality finishes and high-quality inventions.
See more: arnoldandson.com
14. A. Lange & Söhne
The German watchmaker A. Lange & Söhne is known for watches that are unique in appearance and design. The easily recognizable design is stark, but the details are fascinating. The case made of high-grade stainless steel is classic. The hands and dials are Roman numerals in traditional design, while the caliber is highly functional. The Lange 1 is one of the luxury brand’s best-selling watches and is one of the first models but has maintained its appeal through its timeless design and superior functionality.
See more: alange-soehne.com
15. Bell & Ross
Bell & Ross is a luxury watch brand known for its diving watches. The 1992 founded company makes watches with the easily recognizable circle in a square design, the latest technology, and durable materials. The Vintage and Instrument collections are the most iconic Bell & Ross collections. The Instrument collected is identified by its square case reminiscent of airplane cockpit clocks. The watchmaker inspired by aviation history and military professionals is a unique high-end design. The influence is apparent in the luxury watch designs.
See more: bellross.com
16. IWC Schaffhausen
IWC Schaffhausen watches are known for their exceptional aesthetic, which stands out. Their innovative mechanics focuses on sustainability, influenced mainly by its location near the Rhine river, where it uses hydropower. The International Watch Company (IWC) produces highly functional, exact timekeeping pieces that use high-level technology and mechanics to deliver durable watches. The brand’s six collections, Aquatimer, Da Vinci, Pilot’s Watches, Portugieser, Ingenieur, and Portofino, are all unique in the caliber they use to have an automatic time loss of four seconds per day, which is highly accurate.
See more: iwc.com
17. Audemars Piguet
This Swiss watchmaker is one of the best luxury watch brands globally, with the Royal Oak collection is the best-known model. The sports watch made of high-grade stainless steel is the brand’s shining light. The luxury aspect comes in its design and durability. The design incorporates perfect craftsmanship, detailed patterns, and striking engravings on its octagonal bezel face and tapestry-like dial. The collection uses fine mechanical movements that enable the watch to function in almost perfect precision and complicated engineering, making it a favorite for watch collectors and enthusiasts.
See more: audemarspiguet.com
18. Ulysse Nardin
Ulysse Nardin is one of the top luxurious watch brands, which boasts of having won the 185 Guinness Book of World Records most functional watch recognition for its Astrolabium Galileo Galilei. Among its functions, it can tell the positions of significant stars, the moon, and sun orbits and tracks solar and local time. The brand is well known for its new technology and innovative mechanical techniques that make telling time exciting. As a result of its innovations, Ulysse Nardin has been recognized for over four thousand distinctions and boasts of eighteen gold medals for its horological innovations.
See more: ulysse-nardin.com
19. Luis Moinet
The bold elegance of a Luis Monet watch makes one of these the most durable luxury brand watches. The watches favored by many high-profile public figures are well-designed timepiece that is complex in their mechanics. Luis Monet watches are made of rare and expensive materials such as meteorite stone and dinosaur bone, making them unique in their design presentation. They are also known for precision in timekeeping.
See more: louismoinet.com
20. Corum
Corum is a Swiss luxury brand watchmaker best known for bold designs that integrate functionality and glitz. The mechanics in the watches are durable and reliable resulting in precise timekeeping. As one of the best luxury watch brands, it has four collections, The Admiral, Golden Bridge, Bubble, and Heritage, with the Admiral being the most famous. The appeal of Corum watches their high quality and bold designs, which makes the brand stand out.
See more: corum-watches.com
FAQ About Best Luxury Watch Brands
What is a luxury watch?
A luxury watch is made of high-quality materials, uses superior mechanics and technology, and is often handcrafted to produce a high-quality item, making their production limited. The materials used include yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, and platinum, which are expensive. Other materials that make luxury watches like dinosaur bones and jewels are costly and make the watch stand out in its uniqueness and opulence. The craftmanship also contributes to the definition of best luxury watch brands. Those that are totally handmade are higher-end than those that are partly made by mass manufacture.
What are affordable luxury watch brands?
Affordable luxury brands are functional, look good, durable, and premium in their quality and aesthetics. The term affordable is relative to many people, but the choices below are of watches that are way cheaper than the luxury brands but still have great premium qualities.
The worth of luxury watches is determined by their ability to increase in value over time. The brands that will increase in value or will not have a value drop are Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet.
One factor that makes these top luxurious watch brands worth their cost price is that they enjoy vast brand recognition. The watches are timeless because of how well made they tend to be, and a testament to this fact are some watches made in the early twentieth century are still functional and in good condition. Some top choices are Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Rolex Submariner, Patek Philippe Nautilus, Omega Seamaster, Vacheron Constantin Overseas, and Panerai Luminor.
Which luxury watches are worth the money?
The worth of luxury watches is determined by their ability to increase in value over time. The brands that will increase in value or will not have a value drop are Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet.
One factor that makes these top luxurious watch brands worth their cost price is that they enjoy vast brand recognition. The watches are timeless because of how well made they tend to be, and a testament to this fact are some watches made in the early twentieth century are still functional and in good condition. Some top choices are Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Rolex Submariner, Patek Philippe Nautilus, Omega Seamaster, Vacheron Constantin Overseas, and Panerai Luminor.
What is the most expensive watch?
The most expensive watch brands made by Graff Diamonds is the Hallucination. It costs $55 million and is made of 110 carats of diamond, makings it the most expensive watch to date. The colored diamonds on the watch are the costliest and come in different shapes and sizes. The result is a distinct timepiece that is eye-catching.
What is the rarest watch?
The rarest watch is arguably the Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 In Steel, of which Patek Philippe manufactured only four. Its unique feature was that it was the first watch with a perpetual calendar chronograph ever to be made. The Rolex 4113 is another rare watch coming at a close second with only twelve pieces made, and only the whereabouts of eight of these watches are known. The 4113 unique feature is that it is the only split-seconds timepiece to be built by Rolex.
20 of the Most Stylish Luxury Watch Brands
There are many top luxurious watch brands globally, and all of them have unique features that set them apart from their competition. A luxury watch is not just an excellent option for telling time, but it can also serve as an investment. The appeal lies in their ability to increase in value because watchmakers tend to make limited editions since the manufacturing ability tends to be limited by effort, time, and expertise. If you decide to invest in a luxury watch, you will enjoy its superior functionality and its design and aesthetics.
